Saul’s Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan^(A) became one in spirit with David, and he loved^(B) him as himself.^{(C) 2} From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant^(D) with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe^(E) he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.^(F)

⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful^(G) that Saul gave him a high rank in the army.^(H) This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

⁶ When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing,^(I) with joyful songs and with timbrels^(J) and lyres. ⁷ As they danced, they sang:^(K)

⁸ Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?^(M)” ⁹ And from that time on Saul kept a close^(N) eye on David.

¹⁰ The next day an evil^[a] spirit^(O) from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre,^(P) as he usually^(Q) did. Saul had a spear^(R) in his hand ¹¹ and he hurled it, saying to himself,^(S) “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded^(T) him twice.^(U)

¹² Saul was afraid^(V) of David, because the Lord^(W) was with^(X) David but had departed from^(Y) Saul. ¹³ So he sent David away from him and gave him command over a thousand men, and David led^(Z) the troops in their campaigns.^{(AA) 14} In everything he did he had great success,^(AB) because the Lord was with^(AC) him. ¹⁵ When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns.^(AD)

¹⁷ Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter^(AE) Merab. I will give her to you in marriage;^(AF) only serve me bravely and fight the battles^(AG) of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself,^(AH) “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!”

¹⁸ But David said to Saul, “Who am I,^(AI) and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?^(AJ)” ¹⁹ So^[b] when the time came for Merab,^(AK) Saul’s daughter, to be given to David, she was given in marriage to Adriel of Meholah.^(AL)

²⁰ Now Saul’s daughter Michal^(AM) was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.^{(AN) 21} “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare^(AO) to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” So Saul said to David, “Now you have a second opportunity to become my son-in-law.”

²² Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’”

²³ They repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law?^(AP) I’m only a poor man and little known.”

²⁴ When Saul’s servants told him what David had said, ²⁵ Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price^(AQ) for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge^(AR) on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan^(AS) was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.

²⁶ When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, ²⁷ David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal^(AT) in marriage.

²⁸ When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal^(AU) loved David, ²⁹ Saul became still more afraid^(AV) of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

³⁰ The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success^(AW) than the rest of Saul’s officers, and his name became well known.

Saul Tries to Kill David

19 Saul told his son Jonathan^(AX) and all the attendants to kill^(AY) David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David ² and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding^(AZ) and stay there. ³ I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak^(BA) to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”

⁴ Jonathan spoke^(BB) well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong^(BC) to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. ⁵ He took his life^(BD) in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory^(BE) for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent^(BF) man like David by killing him for no reason?”

⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

⁷ So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.^(BG)

⁸ Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.

⁹ But an evil^[c] spirit^(BH) from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre,^{(BI) 10} Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded^(BJ) him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.

¹¹ Saul sent men to David’s house to watch^(BK) it and to kill him in the morning.^(BL) But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.” ¹² So Michal let David down through a window,^(BM) and he fled and escaped. ¹³ Then Michal took an idol^(BN) and laid it on the bed, covering it with a garment and putting some goats’ hair at the head.

¹⁴ When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said,^(BO) “He is ill.”

¹⁵ Then Saul sent the men back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so that I may kill him.” ¹⁶ But when the men entered, there was the idol in the bed, and at the head was some goats’ hair.

¹⁷ Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this and send my enemy away so that he escaped?”

Michal told him, “He said to me, ‘Let me get away. Why should I kill you?’”

¹⁸ When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah^(BP) and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there. ¹⁹ Word came to Saul: “David is in Naioth at Ramah”; ²⁰ so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets^(BQ) prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on^(BR) Saul’s men, and they also prophesied.^{(BS) 21} Saul was told about it, and he sent more men, and they prophesied too. Saul sent men a third time, and they also prophesied. ²² Finally, he himself left for Ramah and went to the great cistern at Seku. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”

“Over in Naioth at Ramah,” they said.

²³ So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying^(BT) until he came to Naioth. ²⁴ He stripped^(BU) off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s^(BV) presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”^(BW)

David and Jonathan

20 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged^(BX) your father, that he is trying to kill me?”^(BY)

² “Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!”

³ But David took an oath^(BZ) and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”

⁴ Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”

⁵ So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast,^(CA) and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide^(CB) in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. ⁶ If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission^(CC) to hurry to Bethlehem,^(CD) his hometown, because an annual^(CE) sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ ⁷ If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper,^(CF) you can be sure that he is determined^(CG) to harm me. ⁸ As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant^(CH) with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill^(CI) me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”

⁹ “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”

¹⁰ David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

¹¹ “Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.

¹² Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound^(CJ) out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? ¹³ But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely,^(CK) if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with^(CL) you as he has been with my father. ¹⁴ But show me unfailing kindness^(CM) like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, ¹⁵ and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family^(CN)—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

¹⁶ So Jonathan^(CO) made a covenant^(CP) with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.^(CQ)” ¹⁷ And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath^(CR) out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

¹⁸ Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty.^{(CS) 19} The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid^(CT) when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. ²⁰ I will shoot three arrows^(CU) to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. ²¹ Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. ²² But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond^(CV) you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. ²³ And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness^(CW) between you and me forever.”

²⁴ So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast^(CX) came, the king sat down to eat. ²⁵ He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan,^[d] and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty.^{(CY) 26} Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.^(CZ)” ²⁷ But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”

²⁸ Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked me for permission^(DA) to go to Bethlehem. ²⁹ He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice^(DB) in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”

³⁰ Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? ³¹ As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom^(DC) will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”

³² “Why^(DD) should he be put to death? What^(DE) has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. ³³ But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended^(DF) to kill David.

³⁴ Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.

³⁵ In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, ³⁶ and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. ³⁷ When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond^(DG) you?” ³⁸ Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. ³⁹ (The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.) ⁴⁰ Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”

⁴¹ After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground.^(DH) Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.

⁴² Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace,^(DI) for we have sworn friendship^(DJ) with each other in the name of the Lord,^(DK) saying, ‘The Lord is witness^(DL) between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.^(DM)’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.^[e]

David at Nob

21 ^[f]David went to Nob,^(DN) to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled^(DO) when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”

² David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. ³ Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.”

⁴ But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary bread^(DP) on hand; however, there is some consecrated^(DQ) bread here—provided the men have kept^(DR) themselves from women.”

⁵ David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual^(DS) whenever^[g] I set out. The men’s bodies are holy^(DT) even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!” ⁶ So the priest gave him the consecrated bread,^(DU) since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.

⁷ Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the Lord; he was Doeg^(DV) the Edomite,^(DW) Saul’s chief shepherd.

⁸ David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.”

⁹ The priest replied, “The sword^(DX) of Goliath^(DY) the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah,^(DZ) is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want it, take it; there is no sword here but that one.”

David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

David at Gath

¹⁰ That day David fled from Saul and went^(EA) to Achish king of Gath. ¹¹ But the servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one they sing about in their dances:

¹² David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. ¹³ So he pretended to be insane^(EC) in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.

¹⁴ Achish said to his servants, “Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? ¹⁵ Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?”

David at Adullam and Mizpah

22 David left Gath and escaped to the cave^(ED) of Adullam.^(EE) When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. ² All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered^(EF) around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

³ From there David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, “Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?” ⁴ So he left them with the king of Moab,^(EG) and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold.

⁵ But the prophet Gad^(EH) said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.^(EI)

Saul Kills the Priests of Nob

⁶ Now Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. And Saul was seated,^(EJ) spear in hand, under the tamarisk^(EK) tree on the hill at Gibeah, with all his officials standing at his side. ⁷ He said to them, “Listen, men of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give all of you fields and vineyards? Will he make all of you commanders^(EL) of thousands and commanders of hundreds? ⁸ Is that why you have all conspired^(EM) against me? No one tells me when my son makes a covenant^(EN) with the son of Jesse.^(EO) None of you is concerned^(EP) about me or tells me that my son has incited my servant to lie in wait for me, as he does today.”

⁹ But Doeg^(EQ) the Edomite, who was standing with Saul’s officials, said, “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelek son of Ahitub^(ER) at Nob.^{(ES) 10} Ahimelek inquired^(ET) of the Lord for him; he also gave him provisions^(EU) and the sword^(EV) of Goliath the Philistine.”

¹¹ Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. ¹² Saul said, “Listen now, son of Ahitub.”

“Yes, my lord,” he answered.

¹³ Saul said to him, “Why have you conspired^(EW) against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so that he has rebelled against me and lies in wait for me, as he does today?”

¹⁴ Ahimelek answered the king, “Who^(EX) of all your servants is as loyal as David, the king’s son-in-law, captain of your bodyguard and highly respected in your household? ¹⁵ Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of his father’s family, for your servant knows nothing at all about this whole affair.”

¹⁶ But the king said, “You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family.^(EY)”

¹⁷ Then the king ordered the guards at his side: “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, because they too have sided with David. They knew he was fleeing, yet they did not tell me.”

But the king’s officials were unwilling^(EZ) to raise a hand to strike the priests of the Lord.

¹⁸ The king then ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests.”^(FA) So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.^{(FB) 19} He also put to the sword^(FC) Nob,^(FD) the town of the priests, with its men and women, its children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep.

²⁰ But one son of Ahimelek son of Ahitub,^(FE) named Abiathar,^(FF) escaped and fled to join David.^{(FG) 21} He told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord. ²² Then David said to Abiathar, “That day, when Doeg^(FH) the Edomite was there, I knew he would be sure to tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of your whole family. ²³ Stay with me; don’t be afraid. The man who wants to kill you^(FI) is trying to kill me too. You will be safe with me.”

David Saves Keilah

23 When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah^(FJ) and are looting the threshing floors,”^{(FK) 2} he inquired^(FL) of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

³ But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!”

⁴ Once again David inquired^(FM) of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines^(FN) into your hand.^(FO)” ⁵ So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. ⁶ (Now Abiathar^(FP) son of Ahimelek had brought the ephod^(FQ) down with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)

Saul Pursues David

⁷ Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah, and he said, “God has delivered him into my hands,^(FR) for David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.”^{(FS) 8} And Saul called up all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.

⁹ When David learned that Saul was plotting against him, he said to Abiathar^(FT) the priest, “Bring the ephod.^(FU)” ¹⁰ David said, “Lord, God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely that Saul plans to come to Keilah and destroy the town on account of me. ¹¹ Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me to him? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Lord, God of Israel, tell your servant.”

And the Lord said, “He will.”

¹² Again David asked, “Will the citizens of Keilah surrender^(FV) me and my men to Saul?”

And the Lord said, “They will.”

¹³ So David and his men,^(FW) about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there.

¹⁴ David stayed in the wilderness^(FX) strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph.^(FY) Day after day Saul searched^(FZ) for him, but God did not^(GA) give David into his hands.

¹⁵ While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that^[h] Saul had come out to take his life.^{(GB) 16} And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength^(GC) in God. ¹⁷ “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king^(GD) over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” ¹⁸ The two of them made a covenant^(GE) before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

¹⁹ The Ziphites^(GF) went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us^(GG) in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah,^(GH) south of Jeshimon? ²⁰ Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving^(GI) him into your hands.”

²¹ Saul replied, “The Lord bless^(GJ) you for your concern^(GK) for me. ²² Go and get more information. Find out where David usually goes and who has seen him there. They tell me he is very crafty. ²³ Find out about all the hiding places he uses and come back to me with definite information. Then I will go with you; if he is in the area, I will track^(GL) him down among all the clans of Judah.”

²⁴ So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the Desert of Maon,^(GM) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon.^{(GN) 25} Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.

²⁶ Saul^(GO) was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, ²⁷ a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” ²⁸ Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. That is why they call this place Sela Hammahlekoth.^{[i] 29} And David went up from there and lived in the strongholds^(GP) of En Gedi.^[j](GQ)

David Spares Saul’s Life

24 ^[k]After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.^(GR)” ² So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look^(GS) for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

³ He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave^(GT) was there, and Saul went in to relieve^(GU) himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. ⁴ The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke^(GV) of when he said^[l] to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’”^(GW) Then David crept up unnoticed and cut^(GX) off a corner of Saul’s robe.

⁵ Afterward, David was conscience-stricken^(GY) for having cut off a corner of his robe. ⁶ He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed,^(GZ) or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” ⁷ With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

⁸ Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.^{(HA) 9} He said to Saul, “Why do you listen^(HB) when men say, ‘David is bent on harming^(HC) you’? ¹⁰ This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared^(HD) you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ ¹¹ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut^(HE) off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty^(HF) of wrongdoing^(HG) or rebellion. I have not wronged^(HH) you, but you are hunting^(HI) me down to take my life.^{(HJ) 12} May the Lord judge^(HK) between you and me. And may the Lord avenge^(HL) the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. ¹³ As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,^(HM)’ so my hand will not touch you.

¹⁴ “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog?^(HN) A flea?^{(HO) 15} May the Lord be our judge^(HP) and decide^(HQ) between us. May he consider my cause and uphold^(HR) it; may he vindicate^(HS) me by delivering^(HT) me from your hand.”

¹⁶ When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice,^(HU) David my son?” And he wept aloud. ¹⁷ “You are more righteous than I,”^(HV) he said. “You have treated me well,^(HW) but I have treated you badly.^{(HX) 18} You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered^(HY) me into your hands, but you did not kill me. ¹⁹ When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward^(HZ) you well for the way you treated me today. ²⁰ I know that you will surely be king^(IA) and that the kingdom^(IB) of Israel will be established in your hands. ²¹ Now swear^(IC) to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.^(ID)”

²² So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.^(IE)

David Again Spares Saul’s Life

26 The Ziphites^(A) went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding^(B) on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?^(C)”

² So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search^(D) there for David. ³ Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah^(E) facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, ⁴ he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.

⁵ Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner^(F) son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.

⁶ David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite^(G) and Abishai^(H) son of Zeruiah,^(I) Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”

“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.

⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.

⁸ Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”

⁹ But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed^(J) and be guiltless?^{(K) 10} As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “the Lord himself will strike^(L) him, or his time^(M) will come and he will die,^(N) or he will go into battle and perish. ¹¹ But the Lord forbid that I should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”

¹² So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the Lord had put them into a deep sleep.^(O)

¹³ Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. ¹⁴ He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”

Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”

¹⁵ David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. ¹⁶ What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice,^(P) David my son?”

David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” ¹⁸ And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong^(Q) am I guilty of? ¹⁹ Now let my lord the king listen^(R) to his servant’s words. If the Lord has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering.^(S) If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the Lord! They have driven me today from my share in the Lord’s inheritance^(T) and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’^{(U) 20} Now do not let my blood^(V) fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea^(W)—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.^(X)”

²¹ Then Saul said, “I have sinned.^(Y) Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious^(Z) today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

²² “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. ²³ The Lord rewards^(AA) everyone for their righteousness^(AB) and faithfulness. The Lord delivered^(AC) you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. ²⁴ As surely as I valued your life today, so may the Lord value my life and deliver^(AD) me from all trouble.”

²⁵ Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed,^(AE) David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”

So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.